Solidarity Rally For Beaten Russian Activist In Khimki

KHIMKI -- Dozens of political activists gathered in the center of the town of Khimki near Moscow on November 12, to express solidarity with their beaten colleague Konstantin Fetisov, RFE/RL's Russian Service reports.

Fetisov was severely beaten by unknown assailants near his apartment on November 4 and has been in an induced coma since then.

He is the leader of the Khimki branch of Pravoye Delo (Right Cause), a small liberal party.

Fetisov is also one of the most active members of the Khimki Forest Defenders movement that has been fighting to stop construction of a new highway between Moscow and St. Petersburg via the Khimki forest.

RFE/RL's correspondent reports that the demonstrators came to the center of Khimki wearing construction helmets.

They called for the resignation of Khimki Mayor Vladimir Strelchenko, the transfer of the Fetisov case from Khimki police to federal investigators, and an end to what they called "the lies about Fetisov on local television."